MIDDLETON - When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker effectively ended collective bargaining for public workers in 2011, it created a niche industry for a Middleton labor consulting firm.

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Carlson Dettmann Consulting has reportedly signed nearly 600 thousand dollars in contracts due to the changes made in the way counties and cities now set their own pay scales. The consulting firm has completed at least a dozen compensation studies in Wisconsin.

Charlie Carlson has essentially cornered the market, being hired so far by 42 of Wisconsin's 72 counties when they compare their wage scale to the private sector. The firm questions employees about their roles, then compares them to wages in nearby public and private sector jobs which are similar in scope.